Why use photovoltaic solar energy as a lever ?
To achieve the climate objectives of its national low-carbon strategy by 2050, France needs to accelerate the development of renewable energies, particularly photovoltaic solar energy. It will need to combine different solutions, such as rooftop installations, ground-based photovoltaic power plants and agrivoltaics, to ensure large-scale deployment.
>> Read : French energy strategy and the deployment of renewable energies
Develop Renewable Energies to Achieve Carbon Neutrality
France is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, in accordance with the commitments of the Paris Agreement (COP 21). This ambition involves a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and an increased development of Renewable Energies, in particular Photovoltaics. Indeed, the energy transition for a decarbonized French economy is based on the gradual replacement of fossil fuels by direct electrification and carbon-free hydrogen, which leads to an increase in Electricity consumption.
Energy autonomy, which is necessary for French sovereignty In this area, raise questions about the quantity of electricity to be supplied and the means of producing it.
A heightened ambition for photovoltaic solar energy
The Power of the French Solar Park Reached 22.2 GW in the summer of 2024, for a production of 12.1 TWh* between January and June. This is 8% more than during the same period in 2023. Photovoltaic energy production Thus covered 5% of electricity consumption over this period.
National Low-Carbon Strategy and the New PPE
The Multiannual Energy Program (PPE) currently deployed in France provides for an acceleration of the development of Renewable Energies by 2028. For photovoltaics, the objective is to reach a capacity of 35.1 to 44 GW, spread around 40% on roofs and 60% on the ground. To achieve this, Photovoltaic Capacity would have to be increased by 3 to 5 GW per year, while the annual growth in previous years is around 2 GW.
However, this version dates from 2020. A new, more ambitious PPE is being developed but governmental instability has delayed its final adoption.
Its implementation would raise the objectives of developing renewable energies in order to meet the ambition to accelerate the Energy Transition. The government proposes to aim for 75 to 100 GW by 2035, which implies an annual deployment rate of 5.5 to 7 GW. However, as photovoltaic energy is the least expensive to produce and can be deployed fairly quickly, its progress is a priority.
For 2028, the PPE is aiming for two options: high and low (cf. decree no. 2020-456 of 21 April 2020). The park also includes installations connected to the Enedis network without an injection agreement. Field: Mainland France. Source: SDES according to Enedis, RTE and CRE
Focus on the complementarity of photovoltaic solutions
Whether they are installed on roofs, in parking canopies, near motorways, on Brownfields Or on agricultural plots as part of agrivoltaic projects, the solutions of Solar Energy Producers To develop photovoltaics must be complementary. The Deployment of This Bouquet Photovoltaics Must make it possible to meet climate objectives, while taking into account the purpose of the projects and the balance between energy production and investment costs.
Land, a Limit to the Development of Solar Power Plants
Although the improvement of technologies makes it possible to consider a better efficiency of solar installations, with a power density approaching 1 MWc per hectare for Ground Based Photovoltaic Power Plants, the need for surfaces remains a concern. Indeed, these installations were developed primarily on industrial wastelands, which are highly coveted and becoming rare. The exploitable field is limited to 9 GW, according to ADEME.
The installation of Photovoltaic panels On the ground involves fewer technical constraints than on roofs, and costs less, but is therefore hampered by the availability of land.
Roof equipment is therefore a priority area of development. ADEME estimates the theoretical potential of roofs at around 350GW. In reality, this figure is smaller due to feasibility criteria:
- technique: size and orientation of roofs, structural capacity, shading,
- administrative: urban planning regulations,
- economical: the cost of producing solar energy on a small roof is 2 to 3 times higher than for large ground power plants.
The APER law encourages the use of additional artificial land, in particular by strengthening the solarization obligations of car parks and by facilitating the installation along roads and motorways. However, the development potential is very limited, at 4 GW and 2.5 GW respectively.
Agrivoltaics, a complementary path for the energy transition
To develop theSolar Energy In France, a complementary solution is on the rise: agrivoltaics.
Defined by a strict regulatory framework, agrivoltaics is based on the synergy between Agricultural production and production ofRenewable Electricity and decarbonized. Les Solar Panels Are installed on agricultural plots and the design adapted to the practices of the farmer.
Therefore that agrivoltaics covers the 21.8 GW remaining to reach the 44 GW targeted by the PPE in 2028, 43,600 hectares of agricultural land would have to be mobilized, or less than 0.16% of the SAU (Useful Agricultural Area) in France.
To Succeed In Energy Transition, there is no doubt that France will have to combine these different Photovoltaic solutions according to the needs of the territory and the energy mix existing locally.
>> Read : Agrivoltaics : what are the advantages for agriculture ?
*1 Terawatt hour (TWh) = 1,000 Gigawatt hours (GWh) = 1,000,000 Megawatt hours (MWh).
Sources :
Ademe, A 100% renewable electricity mix? Analyses and optimizations, 2016.
Ademe, Identification by French department, of abandoned and artificial areas suitable for the establishment of photovoltaic power plants, March 2022, www.ecologie.gouv.fr.
Ministry of Energy Transition, Impact study of the bill relating to the acceleration of renewable energy production.
